Buying a house can be a very stressful task, moving house even more so. We know that better than anyone at Brycelands so we have put together a helpful guide for moving house in the UK.

This moving house checklist will guide you through the process of moving house efficiently and act as a template for your journey to your next home. Hopefully, by following these 6 top tips you will be able to easily relocate within the UK.

1. Find your budget

When moving, keep in mind the expenses that go along with transporting your belongings. Also, consider the work that needs to be done to your new and old house before you leave. There’s always the possibility things go against schedule, so budget not only for the price of the removal of your items but for the storage of them too. At Brycelands we offer flexible storage with our removal services to accommodate all. 

When you first relocate you might have to pay your stamp duty bill within the first 30 days of moving in if it is for a property costing over £125,000, or £300,000 for first-time buyers. By keeping an eye on your budget you can reduce the stress of worrying about your finances when relocating even if it is abroad.

2. Familiarise yourself with the location

You will need to review not only relevant locations for an average day but those under extreme circumstances. This would include directions to the nearest hospital, the route you will take to work and if you have kids, what schools are available in the area. You should also find a new GP and if you own a pet, you should be aware of any veterinarians in the area and have their microchip changed to the new address. 

The right move should not only be for you, but for your pet too. If you are relocating to a new country you may have time to learn the language or familiarise yourself with some basic phrases.

3. Make a list of who you need to tell

Make sure to notify these relevant people before you leave: your bank, insurance providers, the local council, Electoral Roll and employer. You should also think about your friends and family who would want to know where you are moving to, especially if it is a new area. Additionally, if you are renting you will need to notify your landlord before finalising the move and give them the dates of when the removal process will occur.

4. Research movers

When making your decision on a company, consider not only the price but how reliable they are. You may be quoted a cheap price but how professional is their service? Remember experience is the key to moving, as it will increase the chances of all your belongings arriving safely. Look for removal companies with reliable communication and those that are efficient at handling even your most fragile of items. You should make sure to pick someone who will ensure your property and possessions remain undamaged during the removal process. 

Many companies will offer packing and unpacking services even if you are to relocate internationally, which means trusting them with all your possessions. Make sure to find a company with long-term experience in the industry that offers great support, with fast responses. Here at Brycelands, we have 50 years of experience, so for assured quality service make sure to call us on 0800 772 0799 for a free quotation.

5. Pack efficiently

Make sure you are bringing the necessities. Now that you are relocating you should make an effort to sell unwanted and unused items. With websites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, you can sell some of your possessions to increase your budget. Also, with fewer goods in transit, you will increase your chances of saving money on the removal process. It is a great solution to reduce costs and make it easier to organise what you need. 

Do remember to pack items in a fashion you would like to unpack them later, by labelling boxes based on where they go. Imagine what would be placed in each box in order of how often they are used. An example would be making sure you have kitchen utensils together, as you will likely be using them on the first day of the move.

6. Figure out utility expenses

Small details like broadband providers are necessary to think about, especially if you will be planning to work remotely. Other things such as electricity, water and heating should be sorted before making your move. Time management is key since broadband providers can take up to 90 days to set up in your new home.

So, if you have followed our top tips by planning ahead you will have made moving in far less stressful and maintained a clear and sustainable budget. All that is left to do is check your appliances are working and unpack those organised boxes. Now that you have moved in using our moving house guide, take some time to enjoy your new home.

When you have purchased a new house it is vital to think about securing your new property before moving. 

When deciding on how best to protect your new home, you’ll have to balance cost, safety, and threat level without causing any inconvenience to your everyday life. 

So, to help you decide, the following guide provides our five top tips for securing your new property:

Change The Locks

How do you know that you have been handed all the keys to your new home? The previous residents may have lost keys or given spare keys to relatives and friends who forgot to give them back. This puts your property at risk of being accessed without your permission.

In addition, the locks at your new property may not be working efficiently; locks that are hard to open can be hard to lock, leaving you with an un-secure property. 

So, calling upon a professional locksmith can help resolve all these issues and make your house safe.

Install Security Lighting

Installing outdoor security lighting, either manual lights that you switch on or lights set off by movement makes burglars visible, which generally deters them. However, ensure to direct these lights downwards to avoid annoying your new neighbours.

For indoor lighting, you want to trick burglars into thinking someone is home, even when your home is vacant. You can buy timers that turn lights on and off, alongside radios and TVs. Just ensure to sync these devices around your home; for example, switching off the TV ten minutes before the lights in the living room.

Security Cameras

These days installing CCTV is not reserved for big businesses guarding their premises. You can purchase a doorbell camera that is connected to your device through Wi-Fi so if you have any intruders in view a picture or video is sent directly to the palm of your hand. Door cameras are not very expensive and some have the added benefit of being able to speak to delivery people when you are not in.

Securing your new property by installing cameras is the perfect security strategy.

New Item Packaging

When you move into your new house you may have to populate it with new appliances.

If you buy new appliances such as a TV and kitchen equipment for your home, take the packaging to your local recycling or rubbish point. Leaving large boxes with Samsung 50″ Ultra HD outside in a new area could advertise to potential thieves that your new property is full of brand new expensive appliances. Under no circumstance should you leave boxes advertising your new 50’ TV outside your home!

Secure Your Garden

Gardens can be an excellent burglar deterrent; they can make it more difficult for burglars to approach without alerting the homeowner. 

If your new property has a garden, ensure to trim the hedges back, so your property is not hidden from view. It is also a good idea to do some defensive gardening. For example, you can plant shrubs with thorns at the borders of your home to stop burglars hiding in them. 

Brycelands can’t secure your home. However, we do offer comprehensive packing and storage solutions for domestic removals, business and office relocations. 

Alongside impeccable service and superior value for money, we understand that our clients expect friendly and personable service. 

Moving offices is an exciting time. However, the moving process involves considerable organisation and can be hugely stressful for those coordinating it. As a result, some companies choose to remain in cramped, expensive facilities to avoid the hassle.

The following tips will help make your move fast, efficient, and stress-free:

Give yourself plenty of planning time 

Regardless of how big your company is, office relocations need detailed preparation and planning. You can’t “wing it” when moving office spaces. It is best to decide who is doing what, the moving date, and the time frame for the move. In addition, it is good to assign a realistic budget to the relocation, ensuring it covers the cost of hiring movers.

You’ll also need to plan where items will go when you arrive at your new office space. Use a blueprint to gain an understanding of the office and common space layouts. 

To ensure you have enough time to execute your office move, set aside a few months for planning time and a couple of months to get everything set up.

Communicate with your employees

Successful office relocations require a team effort. It is imperative to communicate with your employees when relocating offices, ensuring to keep them up-to-date with time schedules and moving plans. Remember to also inform your staff of the new address, new building rules, and unpacking arrangements at the new location. 

Encourage your employees to create a moving checklist to ensure all areas are covered, and no items get lost in the move.

Assign a move manager

Appointing a manager to oversee your office move is essential. They can facilitate and follow up on each step to ensure everything runs smoothly. 

The manager should be highly organised, excellent at communication, and experienced with budgeting. Administrative assistants are usually best suited to this role, but an individual who has helped with commercial relocations before would also be a great fit.

Protect your data

You never know what could happen to your hardware and files during the relocation process. So it is essential to back up and protect your data from loss and breach when moving to avoid losing crucial documents to damaged hard drives and servers.

De-clutter your office space 

You don’t want to move to a new office space with unused items. Evaluate what needs to be moved and decide what to discard or donate; shred unnecessary papers, remove old files, recycle old furniture and donate or sell old equipment. 

Although many charities accept old office furniture, don’t assume your chosen charity will be able to coordinate a last-minute pickup or drop off. The same applies to securely disposing of electronic equipment. 

Decide what items you’re keeping and what you’re discarding well before moving to ensure you leave yourself sufficient time to drop them off at a charity shop, or schedule for them to be picked up from your premises.

Update your address 

It is essential to inform your suppliers and customers about your new company address, relocation date, and when your business will resume working. Update your website, letterhead, business cards, and all social media platforms. In addition, contact Google to have your address changed before relocating.

Hire a professional moving company

Hiring a moving company will help facilitate a smooth office move. Moving companies have the resources and expertise needed to ensure the relocation process is flawless. 

Brycelands offers an industry-leading range of removals and storage services, alongside comprehensive packing and unpacking services. 

Call us on 0800 772 0799 to get a free quote today. 

Moving home can be stressful and overwhelming for several reasons; it is often expensive, takes a significant amount of energy and time, and may lead to property damage and personal injuries.

From feelings of sadness to fear, moving also conjures up a range of emotions that can be hard to control.

Remaining calm when moving is key to a successful move. Here are some tips to help you stay calm during the moving process:

Get enough sleep and Eat well

Preparing to move homes is exhausting and energy-draining. Ensure to get enough sleep and don’t push yourself too hard. Whilst it can be tempting to reduce your sleep hours to improve productivity, a lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, making you more stressed. Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine will give your mind and body time to rest, which will help you perform better during the day.

If you are behind on your moving schedule, it is a good idea to ask for help from family and friends rather than sacrificing your health.

It is also essential to maintain a healthy balanced diet whilst moving homes. Your body needs nutrients for energy; don’t skip meals throughout the day, and ensure to eat enough fruits and vegetables and consume enough water.

Give yourself enough time

If you don’t give yourself enough time to prepare for your house move, you are likely to feel stressed. So how can you remain calm whilst moving homes?

Ensure to allocate yourself enough time. This way, you won’t be affected by unforeseen problems.

It is also a good idea to begin preparing for the move as soon as possible. Pack your items without delay and remain organised with a moving checklist to ensure your move runs smoothly.

Hire professionals

When organising a home move, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the number of tasks that need completion. Moving day can also present risks and dangers for yourself and your family due to the number of heavy items lifted and carried out of your home. One wrong step can lead to accidents: property damage and personal injuries.

To stay calm during a home move, and reduce the risks and dangers of moving day, transfer the responsibility to experienced professionals who know how to avoid accidents and perform efficiently under pressure.

Manage moving expenses

How are you meant to stay calm when moving homes if you are worried about your savings? Moving homes is notoriously expensive, so taking steps to ensure you don’t overspend is essential.

• Firstly, create a moving budget to monitor how much you spend. You’ll be able to remain calm if you know that your expenses are within budget.
• Secondly, hire an affordable moving company that offers high-quality services.
• Finally, declutter your home to reduce moving costs. Only move the items you need into your new home. You’ll be a lot calmer knowing that you’re not paying to move things you don’t use. You can even sell unwanted items to make money from your move.

Focus on the positives

It is always important to stay optimistic when moving. Don’t let negative thoughts induced by the stress of moving or fear of moving to a new location prevent you from looking forward to what the future holds.

Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your move. For example, try writing down all the benefits of moving homes for yourself and your family; this may be a fresh start, the opportunity to make new friends, the chance to change jobs or live in a bigger home.

For more assistance to help your move go smoothly read our helpful moving house check list

Brycelands can help you move homes. We offer tailor-made removals, storage and relocation services across Hertfordshire. Get a free removal quote here today.

Packing tips for moving items into storage

Placing items into storage is an excellent idea if you move into a smaller home and cannot accommodate all your belongings.

Storage facilities are also great for temporarily storing items whilst renovating your home. To reduce the stress of moving, place your belongings into a storage facility ahead of moving day: you can remove items from your old home and store them away until you have found a place for them in your new home.

From decluttering to dealing with hazardous items, the following tips will guide you through packing up belongings for storage.

Declutter

Avoid placing unnecessary items in storage by selling your unwanted items, taking them to a charity shop or gifting them to your friends and family. Decluttering will reduce your storage costs: more items require more space which typically increases storage price.

Inventory

Create an inventory of all the items you place in storage. This will help you keep track of where your belongings are and save you from frantically searching your home for them.

Label everything

Labelling storage boxes with information about their contents and which room they belong to will save you time when unpacking the boxes. Label each side of the box to ensure this information is visible, regardless of its placement in the storage unit.

Place heavier items at the bottom of boxes

If packed incorrectly, boxes are at risk of toppling over. Place heavy items at the bottom of boxes to stabilise them. Placing heavy items below lighter items will also prevent objects from being crushed.

Protect fragile items

To avoid breakages, wrap fragile items in bubble wrap and carefully pack them into boxes: stuff gaps between items with scrunched up newspaper or packing peanuts to stabilise them. Glass objects and plates should be placed vertically in boxes to prevent any breakages. It is also a good idea to mark the outside of boxes with fragile items inside, so you know to be extra careful when handling them.

Dismantle furniture

It is challenging to place large furniture items such as beds or cupboards into storage. If possible, dismantle furniture to make transportation more manageable and the items less space-consuming to store. Once dismantled, Wrap up delicate pieces in bubble wrap to protect them. Place any screws or bolts into a sealed bag and label the bag with their corresponding piece of furniture.

Ensure to label all furniture parts so you can easily put each piece of furniture back together.

Ensure items are clean

For hygiene purposes, it is advisable to clean items before placing them in storage. Removing dust and dirt from your belongings will also ensure they look pristine when collected.

Deal with hazardous Items

Units are not likely to store hazardous items. For example, items containing fuel, such as garden equipment, must be drained.

It is a good idea to check your chosen storage facilities regulations before storing any items.

Are you looking for a storage facility? Brycelands offers non-contractual deals on storage for maximum flexibility: store your items for as little as one month or as long as you like. Our affordable storage solutions are available for customers in Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties. In addition to storage, we also offer a range of packing services, collections and redelivery options.

Arrange a free quotation or find out more information about our services by contacting us on 0800 772 0799.

GP practices are within their rights to force you to move to a new GP practice, they have to be able to draw a line somewhere. But it can be upsetting moving to a new GP particularly if you have had the same one for a long time.

If you are moving house and not moving far then staying with your GP shouldn’t be a problem. You should always ask your GP if they are willing to continue treating you. The reason you need to notify your GP practice of an address move is your doctor will need to assure the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) that they are willing to visit and treat you. 

You could try popping in and talking directly to your practice and as long as you are not too far away they might keep you on. It is generally up to your GP, but if you have a particularly good relationship with them they may be willing to make an exception.

What Should I Do If I Really Want To Stay With My GP?

The best thing to do is to have an open discussion with your practice, you can give your reasons why you want to stay with your GP. Honesty is the best policy with these situations and they may be willing to help you, especially if you have long-term mental or physical health issues.

Moving house can be very stressful, and your GP will understand that so they may even be willing to let you stay with them on a short term basis.

Contact our removals experts today